Greenwood Gumshoes: A Dictionary of Fictional Detectives

The enormous explosion of crime fiction over the last decade means that more people are looking for a good mystery than ever before. This dictionary of fictional detectives helps readers learn about the series in which their favorite detectives are featured. Included are alphabetically arranged entries on roughly 150 fictional detectives, which provide information about the works in which the detective appears, the locales in which the detective operates, the detective's investigative methods, and other important information. Helpful bibliographical citations direct the reader to other interesting works. The volume closes with a selected, general bibliography; various appendices; and an extensive index. The enormous explosion of crime fiction over the last decade means that more people are looking for a good mystery than ever before. Many of the most popular mystery books appear in series, and these series feature carefully developed detectives. The volume provides coverage of familiar and less familiar detectives; male and female protagonists; gay and lesbian lead characters; and figures from a wide range of historical, cultural, and geographical settings. Included are entries on: Jim Chee Adam Dalgliesh Gregor Demarkian Sister Fidelma Joe Leaphorn Pharoah Love Thomas Lynley Kate Martinelli Sharon McCone Kinsey Millhone Monsieur Pamplemouse Easy Rawlins Ian Rutledge Shan Tao Yun Entries discuss the various novels in which the detective appears; the character's locale and time period; the detective's associates, adversaries, and significant others; and the character's investigative techniques. The entries direct the reader to similar series for further reading, and to additional sources of information. The volume closes with a selected, general bibliography; various appendices; and an extensive index. Review As the well-stocked mystery shelves of libraries and bookstores attest, the fictional detective has generated an incredible amount of literature and loyal readers. One hundred fifty fictional detectives-sleuths, snoops, cops, or hard-boiled PIs-are represented in this who's-who-in-whodunit-literature....The user-friendly A-Z listing contains summary data for each imaginary detective that could easily fill a rap sheet....[o]ffers a fascinating look at the development of detective series fiction from the early 1800s through the latter part of the twentieth century....A valuable tool for beginners and repeat offenders alike, Gumshoes is recommended for all readers' advisory, mystery novel, and reference collections in all public and academic libraries. It is particularly useful for its treatment of contemporary sleuths.-- " Booklist, Starred Review" Brunsdale presents a resource text to help general readers--especially high school and college students--locate stimulating works by familiar contemporary favorites and discover new authors. A detailed introduction provides a brief history of the detective series genre, including both well- known and less familiar series detectives from the early 1800s through the 1960s. The 150 entries that follow cover series mainly produced after 1970. Each entry includes basic data about the detective or a collective sleuth; the author's aims for the series; a mini-psychological profile of the detective with reference to his/her literary antecedents; and the series' significance to the genre. Indexed by detective, author, and title, the text also includes four appendices arranging the 150 entries into authors and their sleuths, geographical areas, time periods, and detective's field of employment.-- " Reference & Research Book News" Brunsdale profiles 150 contemporary fictional series detectives. Most are characters/series produced after 1970, with some exceptions (e.g., Steve Carella, Travis McGee, Adam Dalgliesh). Although gumshoe conjures up images of modern detectives, this book does not slight stars of popular series of historical